Deval Patrick and Julian Castro were capable opening acts for First Lady Michelle Obama's return to the stage at the Democractic National Convention. Here's a look at some of the key moments from the first night in Charlotte.

Julian Castro embraces his moment, holding a microphone "instead of a mop"

"A few months ago [Romney] visited a university in Ohio and gave the students there a little entrepreneurial advice. "Start a business," he said. But how? "Borrow money if you have to from your parents," he told them. Gee, why didn't I think of that? ... I don't think Governor Romney meant any harm. I think he's a good guy. He just has no idea how good he's had it." -- Julian Castro

This week, there was talk was about whether San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro could make the star turn Pres. Barack Obama made at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The Daily Beast even explored whether Castro could be the first Latino president. Castro's speech certainly helped to fan those flames. The Telegraph (U.K.) made note of his "Texan accent" and "engaging warmth and optimism" as he spoke of the challenges many face in pursuit of the American dream, and how it is often not realized within a generation. Perhaps the most poignant moment of Castro's speech was when he thanked his mother, who "fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone."
Watch exceprts of Julian Castro's speech below, or read a full transcript of his speech.

Michelle Obama: Mom-in-chief

"Barack and I were both raised by families who didn't have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable: their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves." -- First Lady Michelle Obama

In the wake of Ann Romney's speech last week, which was key to revealing a softer, more "human" side of her husband, the First Lady spoke about her husband's first term in office, his strengths as a father and his hope for the future. She also reflected back upon the early days of their relationship when they were "so young, so in love, and so in debt."

One of the loudest ovations came when she suggested how her husband and his opponent had different views of success: "For Barack, it's not about how much money you make. It's about the difference you make in people's lives." Early media reaction has ranged from positive to glowing. On Twitter, CNN's Anderson Cooper wrote that he had "never heard such a well delivered speech by a first lady ever." The Huffington Post called her speech "electrifying."

"Mitt Romney talks a lot about all of the things he's fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts was not one of them." -- Gov. Deval Patrick

Another week, another Massachusetts governor addressing America. Tuesday night, this one was intent on exploding Mitt Romney's legacy in office, as Governor Deval Patrick suggested that his predecessor was "more interested in having the job than doing it." Patrick's rousing speech met with thunderous applause in Charlotte, and his final flourish brought the crowd to its feet. On Twitter, Politico's Roger Simon said Patrick made himself a "national figure" with his speech. He may have stolen some of the thunder of the night's much anticipated keynote speaker, Julian Castro.

"There's no way we could afford to pay for all the care she needs to survive. When you have a sick child, it's always in the back of your mind and sometimes in the front of your mind.
On top of that, to worry that people would let an insurance company take away her health care, just because of politics?"

There was buzz early Tuesday that Stacey Lihn's speech would be one of the most impactful of the evening. Writer Susan Orlean suggested that Democratic party insiders were confident that the young mother's emotional story of her daughter's defective heart, and the treatment that would be jeopardized by the potential repeal of Obamacare, had the potential to be a breakout moment Tuesday evening.

"On that first day, I said, "Mr. President, which crisis do you want to tackle first?" He looked at me, with that look he usually reserved for his chief of staff, "Rahm, we were sent here to tackle all of them, not choose between them." -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Earlier in the week, Emanuel, Pres. Obama's former chief of staff, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that there was "nothing memorable" about Republican nominee Mitt Romney's speech to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. Tuesday night, he had his own chance to say something memorable to the crowd in Charlotte.

Bonus video: DNC Tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy

Earlier Tuesday, the Democratic party aired a tribute to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) which in many ways was a history of the Democratic party of the past fifty years. Kennedy's great-nephew, Joseph Kennedy III, who is running for a House seat in Massachusetts, also spoke Tuesday evening.